Nine Weeks

Wow.  I can't believe I'm already nine weeks (and two days, to be precise) pregnant!  Time flies when you're making a human being! lol

I'm sorry I didn't get to post this Pregnancy Progress update on Saturday, but we were down South with my sweet family.  I always enjoy time with my peeps, but this holiday season was even sweeter since we got to celebrate Peanut and the awesome news of my little brother's engagement (to the most amazing girl ever, I might add)!  We are so blessed!

Ok, so here's the scoop on Peanut's progress...

Symptoms:

-very light nausea (usually only when I'm very hungry or have eaten too much)
-fatigue (that's a given!)
-increased appetite (most of the time...some times nothing sounds good)
-fuller (still slightly tender) tah-tahs
-indigestion/reflux
-gassiness/bloating

Milestones/Happenings:

Peanut loses his little nub of a tail this week!  Hopefully that means my husband will stop calling him a turtle! lol  His eyes are fully formed, but his eyelids are fused shut and will stay that way for the next 16 weeks or so.  He's more active and may wiggle around in his sac during his waking hours (although I still can't feel it).

Cravings: (These come and go so quickly, it's hard to keep up!)

-any type of potatoes
-my Mom's southwestern chicken egg rolls (got to fulfill this craving this weekend--woohoo!)
-sweet tea
-Subway meatball subs
-soft serve ice cream
-boiled peanuts (had to race to the roadside stand that sells these before they closed on the way back into town yesterday...let this be known: my husband ROCKS! lol)
-sausage/bacon (these are the the only kinds of pork Peanut wants right now)
-Bonefish Grill fish tacos and Bang Bang shrimp (hey, Bonefish...if I advertise for you on here, can I pleeeease get a free delivery of this sent to my house?? :) )
-nice cold drinks

Aversions:

-most seafood (except for shrimp and mild fish, like tilapia)
-most pork products (chops, loin, and ham)
-hot beverages
-saltines (they're starting to get a little old...)
-Mexican (I attempted this again last week...NO BUENO!)
-most fruits and veggies still

Baby Bump:

There's definitely some bump action going on below my belly button now!  I'm going to see how it looks next weekend when I hit ten weeks, and if it still looks like baby and not bloat, I'll post some pictures on here! ;)

Alrighty, time to wrap the last few gifts and put the finishing touches on the dessert for tonight!  My husband, Peanut, and I want to wish each and every one of you a VERY Merry Christmas!  Remember that although this season is filled with love and laughter as we gather with our families and friends, eat lots of yummy food, and open loads of thoughtful gifts, JESUS CHRIST is the real reason we celebrate this day!  Let us all remember to give thanks to the Father, who sent His only Son to be the ultimate sacrifice, so that we can all spend eternity in heaven one day!  Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus! :)

Let the Holiday Festivities Begin!

Hey guys!  This is going to be a really quick post, since my husband and I are trying to get things ready so we can head down South to see my wonderful family for the weekend!

Peanut is still doing great (as far as I can tell from the outside, lol)! Every morning I check my belly to see if there's a bump making it's appearance yet, and while I do think I see somewhat of a difference below my belly button, it's not quite ready to be posted yet.  Sorry guys! ;)  The "bump" gets significantly bigger as the day goes on, and then goes down by the morning (which, to me, screams "bloat" not "baby").  I'm definitely ready for my belly to "pop" so that I know Peanut is growing in there, but I'm sure that baby belly is right around the corner!

Since I'll be out of town this weekend (when I would usually do my "Pregnancy Progress" post), I plan on doing that update when we're get back on Monday.  So stay tuned!  I hope y'all have a safe and fun weekend!

Eight Week Ultrasound

I love that every time I blog now, I have even MORE good news to share!  It makes my heart overflow with joy and gratitude for all of the many blessings God is showering us with!

Today, on top of getting to see our little Peanut (who now resembles a precious little gummy bear!), I was also told that the clot has completely resolved and I am cleared to get off bed rest!  Ahhhhh!  PTL! How awesome is that??! That means that a) I won't be spending Christmas with the hub's entire family piled in my bedroom (not that I'd mind, guys, as long as I get to see y'all! lol), b) my husband and I (and Peanut) get to make the five hour trip to see my family this weekend, and c) we don't have to go back for another u/s for a whole two weeks!  Needless to say, I am one happy girl!

Although I'm off of bed rest, Dr T still wants me to take it easy...which isn't too hard for me because I have the energy of a drugged snail right now.  I do wish I could go for a leisurely walk a few times a week, but he put the kilbosh on that and said I can only go outside to "stroll" around for a minute and get some fresh air but not take any walks around the block just yet.  Bummer.  I was hoping that taking short walks would help increase my energy level, but I guess that will have to wait for a few more weeks!  So guess where I've spent most of my first day officially off bed rest?  That's right---in bed! LOL Maybe I'll be more energetic tomorrow and venture out into the living room again...or better yet, maybe I'll go down the street and get a much-needed pedicure! ;)

Now for the good news on Peanut...I swear, every week I am amazed at how my love for him (or her) grows!  And at how the little guy physically grows, too!  He is measuring right on track still, making me 8W3D, and he's got the most adorable little arms and legs that definitely do help him to look more like a baby (or a "turtle" per my husband and brother) and less like a tadpole.  Dr T said he was sleeping when we did the u/s (because he wasn't wiggling around at the moment), and that he's already gotten into a sleep/wake pattern.  Peanut's heart was still flickering away on the screen and sounds wonderfully strong and rhythmic.  Seeing and hearing our little miracle is definitely the best way to start the day!

So, for today's photo op, Peanut chose a full frontal pose, which shows off his tiny arms/legs and the tiny bit of embryonic tail (bottom part of his spinal column) he has left (no, Mom, that is NOT a winkie! LOL).

*Now, I must warn you: this picture comes with a Major Cuteness Warning.  The extreme levels of cuteness that are exhibited in this photo may make you involuntarily giggle or smile uncontrollably. This is completely normal and to be expected.*

 

Ok, I know I've asked this before, but isn't he THE cutest thing EVER??  I think he's looking more and more like me every day (hence the increasing levels of cuteness...hehehe).  This picture quickly found it's way to the home screen on my phone...do you blame me?? :)

Eight Weeks

Eight weeks down, only thirty-two more to go! ;)

Well, I can officially say that I feel F-A-T.   I haven't tried on any of my regular pants (since I don't go anywhere other than Dr T's once a week), but I'm quite sure there would be some muffin-top action going on if I did.  I woke up this morning to a definite "pooch" below my belly button, but not the cute kind that screams "baby bump", but more the kind that screams "too many Danish wedding cookies". lol  But that's okay, because that just means that Peanut is growing and that a more definitive baby belly is on it's way!  Yaaay!

So here is Peanut's Pregnancy Progress update for this week...

Symptoms:

-nausea (more so now when I'm hungry, thinking about food at all, or when I have reflux)
-reflux (it helps to prop my head up on some pillows for at least two hours after I eat)
-mild/dull cramping (this started more yesterday, but I know he's got a lot of growing to do!)
-"backed-up" (if you know what I mean...I know, TMI, but seriously---this is quite painful)
-bubble guts (24/7, but it definitely gets worse right after I eat)
-not as sore but still tender tah-tahs
-fatigue
-restlessness
-mood swings...sorry, honey :)
-bloating (blaaaaah)
-stuffy/bloody nose (mostly in the morning)
-peeing every thirty minutes (not a ton at once, but my bladder feels full quicker because of the pressure my uterus is putting on it)

Size of Baby:

Raspberry (a little over 1/2 inch---wow!!)

Milestones/Happenings:

Peanut is now moving his arms/legs and kicking around in there (although I can't feel it yet)!  My uterus is now the size of a grapefruit (whereas it was plum-sized before Peanut came along), which definitely explains the dull cramps!

Cravings:

-pizza
-potatoes in pretty much any form (mashed, fried, scalloped, etc)
-soft serve ice cream
-oreos
-baked doritos
-KFC mac-n-cheese
-my Dad's goulash
-cold beverages (although I've never really liked ice because it hurts my teeth)
-Subway meatball sub

Food Aversions:

-most veggies/fruits
-pork chops/loin...well, pretty much any type of pork
-any hot beverages
-most seafood (except for shrimp)

I can't wait for our appointment on Tuesday!  If things look okay, I might get off bed rest AND we won't have to go back for two weeks!  (Although this is a little bittersweet...I love getting to see our cute little nugget every week!)  Please keep praying as Peanut keeps growing and God keeps working! :)

A Note to Peanut

I got this sweet idea from my good friend, Jessie, who created a blog for her son, Grayson, which she used to write him "love notes" while he was still in utero. It's wonderful to think that one day he'll have all of those letters to look back on and observe the changes his Mommy (and Daddy) went through during the pregnancy!  I don't plan on doing multiple posts to Peanut, but I do want to give him a little shout-out today to let him know what a blessing he is! :)

My Dearest Peanut,

Where do I start??  Your Daddy and I are absolutely thrilled about meeting you in just 7 1/2 more months!  We've been praying for you for a very long time now, and went through a lot of not-so-fun times to get where we are today (with you in my belly), but it was well worth the wait!  God knew exactly what He was doing, and I know He was just making sure Daddy and I were ready for you (which we are!).   July can't come quick enough!

Even though you're only the size of a raspberry, your Daddy and I love you VERY much already! (We've actually loved you since you were just a teeny-tiny cell, but I'll explain more on that later and show you your first "picture".)  We have seen you grow so much in the last few weeks, and we even got to see your heartbeat, which was a-maz-ing!  You already seem so vibrant and strong---I'd better have my running shoes on when you're born, cause I have a feeling you're gonna be an energetic little guy (or girl)!  

Although I love feeling you grow and feel all of the symptoms that comes along with that (being queasy, wanting to eat food straight out of a deep fryer, peeing every thirty minutes, etc), I do have to ask one thing of you right now:  please remember that Mommy's uterus is very tender right now and trying to stretch a lot to make more room for you, so try not to do any acrobatic moves or treat Mommy's tummy like a jungle gym just yet.  Between my intestines, bladder, and you, things are getting pretty tight in there, and it sure does get uncomfortable at times!  Thank you in advance, my sweet little nugget of joy! :)

Well, that's about it for now.  Mommy has to go tinkle again and find something to eat (this is pretty much how my days go now that you're in there).  But one more thing before I go...

If you don't remember anything else from this "letter", please remember this:  We count YOU, our little Peanut, as the greatest blessing in our lives, and we thank God every single day for granting us the opportunity to be your parents.  Don't ever forget that we love you more than words can say, and that God (the Big Man Upstairs who made you---more on Him later, too) loves you even more than that!   

Love Always,

Your Mommy